Bakersfield Condors Offensive Explosion Decimates Idaho Steelheads
(photo credit: Bakersfield Condors)
With avalanche-like momentum, the Bakersfield Condors scored goals on five of their first seven attempts Sunday afternoon and the Idaho Steelheads could never recover, accepting a 7-1 defeat at Rabobank Arena.
The seven goals allowed and six-goal differential were season-highs for the Steelheads (29-20-7).
The Condors’ (26-22-5) piled on the pressure early, scoring on its first shot, a George Hughes rocket from the top of the left-wing circle at the 1:16 mark that would ultimately set the tone of the game, and from there Bakersfield would not relent. The Condors piled on goals at 2:35, 5:26, and 9:49 to make it 4-0, putting an end to Josh Robinson’s time in the net for Idaho.
The first shot replacement goaltender Pat Nagle saw also slipped past him at 10:14 of the first, making it a 5-0 game in the first ten minutes of play.
“This doesn’t happen much in anyone’s career actually so when it comes you’ve just gotta take it in an enjoy it,” said the Condors’ Jordan Knackstedt who posted a pair of goals for the evening. “…but at the same time you can’t look past it; you’ve just gotta keep playing the right way and I think we did that tonight.”
Scoring in the second period was limited to one goal, but the Condors laid claim to it at the 15:02 mark, offsetting a barrage of scoring opportunities that were turned back by Laurent Brossoit.
The Steelheads were forced to continue play without rookie defenseman Matt Walters after he was boarded by the Condors’ Ryan Little at 6:52 of the second. Idaho was already playing shorthanded without captain Patrick Cullity, suspended by the ECHL prior to the game, leaving the Steelheads with just four natural defensemen for over half of the hockey game.
After Bakersfield extended their lead to 7-0, Idaho would finally put a tally on the board and break up the shutout bid with the team’s ninth short-handed goal of the season. Rob Linsmayer carried the puck into the offensive zone and dropped the puck to Luke Judson, who rocketed a blast past Brossoit at the 9:52 mark of the third period. Judson’s offensive prowess was on showcase as he picked up his tenth goal of the season, six of which came in 14 games since joining Idaho in early February.
“Right now we’re just chasing points and want to climb the standings, so every game is important,” said the Condors’ Ryan Watson who also notched a pair of goals. “Especially against a team like Idaho who is just in front of us, so to get the two points, that’s huge. And obviously we did it in a nice style tonight.”
Robinson suffered the loss in net for Idaho, allowing four goals on six shots. Nagle stopped 13-of-16 in relief as Idaho held the Condors to just 22 total shots on net. The Steelheads only managed 17, tying a season-low.
Neither team scored on the power play, Idaho going 0-2 and the Condors going 0-4 in a virtually whistle-free game.
Coming into the matchup, this game was only the second time all season that the Condors played host to the Idaho Steelheads, although they have traveled to Boise for seven games during the campaign. Although the home ice advantage has belonged to the Steelheads, Idaho has only picked up three wins thus far including two in a row back in mid-February.
The Steelheads will make another trip to Bakersfield in two weeks’ time, with a two-game series at Rabobank Arena that will wrap up the season series.
